Circuit Info

Circuit History

Timaru is now New Zealand's second-oldest continuously running circuit, with a history stretching back to 1967. The FIA Grade 3 circuit now hosts New Zealand's Super Truck Series alongside a bustling calendar of club racing.

The circuit is owned by the South Canterbury Car Club, which first formed in 1947 to run hillclimbs and paddock events, before progressing to organising the Waimate 50 Street Race. This continued until 1966 after which the race organisation passed elsewhere and the South Canterbury Club organised its first race in Timaru in early 1967, on the streets around the Craigie Avenue area. This proved a success and plans were quickly put in place for a permanent circuit.

Land was purchased by the club at Falvey Road and a 1.6km circuit - known at the time as the Levels Raceway - sprang up within a matter of months. The first event was held in November of the same year and the club never looked back. Development continued year on year, with club and National Championship racing the mainstay of activities.

In 1988 it was decided that it was time to move up a level and increase the length of the circuit. A new loop was added to its northern end, bringing the total lap length up to 2.4km. In addition, a chicane was added at the old Turn 5 for use by motorcycle racers, for whom the perils of the flat out corner had become too obvious to bear.

The full circuit is now licenced to FIA category 3 which allows the club to run international events up to GT classes as well as National Championships including the NZ Touring Cars (though these are not currently on the schedule) and Super Truck Racing.

Getting There

Timaru International Motor Raceway is located near to the port city of Timaru on New Zealand's South Island. The nearest airport is Timaru's Richard Pearse Airport, five minutes down the road from the circuit, offering regular passenger flights to Wellington. Alternatively Christchurch International Airport is a two-hour drive to the north east.

The circuit is located 8km to the north of Timaru, accessible from either State Highway 1 or Timaru-Pleasant Point Highway.